Deep Fried Whole Buffalo Turkey Recipes

BUFFALO FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• Look at the label on the turkey and write down the exact weight. Place the turkey on a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons salt all over the turkey, inside and out, nudging some into areas where the skin naturally separates from the bird, such as around the neck, top of the breast and between the legs and breast. Chill, uncovered, at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
• Pat the turkey very dry with paper towels, making sure there is no moisture anywhere, especially in the cavity. (Any wetness may cause dangerous splattering.)
• Place the turkey breast-side up in the basket of a turkey fryer or on the fry stand, depending on the type of deep fryer you have; follow the manufacturer's instructions. Let the turkey sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour and up to 3.
• Fill a turkey fryer with oil according to the manufacturer's instructions, following the specifications for the weight of your turkey (see Cook's Note). Heat to 375 degrees F (this could take 30 to 60 minutes depending on your fryer). Set a rack inside a rimmed baking sheet.
• Lowering the turkey requires upper body strength so prepare yourself. Most fryers come with a hook to lower and raise the basket or fry stand in and out of the oil. Make sure to use the hook. Lift the basket over the fryer and carefully and slowly lower the turkey into the oil, inch by inch, until about half way, and then pause to allow the cavity to fill with oil. The oil will be bubbling vigorously and that?s ok. (If it starts to splatter violently, that could mean there is water on the turkey or that the turkey is still partially frozen. If that happens, remove the turkey from the oil and check to ensure the turkey is free of moisture and not still frozen.) Once the cavity is full of oil, continue lowering the turkey until it is completely submerged. Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding cooking covered or uncovered and adjusting the heat. Continue cooking until the turkey is golden brown, 3 1/2 to 4 minutes per pound, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Carefully remove the turkey from the oil and transfer to the prepared rack to drain and cool, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Simmer the hot sauce, garlic and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until slightly darker and thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard the garlic, reduce the heat to low and stir in the butter, one piece at a time, until completely melted, stirring constantly until the sauce is thick and smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Remove the turkey from the basket or fry stand and liberally brush with the Buffalo sauce, making sure to get into every nook and cranny. Let sit 15 minutes. Repeat basting and sitting two more times. Reserve remaining sauce for serving.
• Serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks, blue cheese dip and remaining Buffalo sauce.

DEEP-FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• To determine how much oil you will need for frying, set your turkey (still in the plastic) in your frying pot, legs up. Measure and add enough water just to cover the turkey. (There should be at least 6 inches between the water line and the top of the pot to fry safely.) Remove the turkey and water and dry the pot very well.
• Combine the butter, broth, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over very low heat and cook until the garlic softens, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and let cool completely. Strain; reserve the liquid and discard the solids.
• One hour before you are ready to cook, take the turkey out of the refrigerator and remove the neck and giblets. Pat the turkey very dry, inside and out. If there is a pop-up timer, remove and discard. Use an injector syringe to inject the butter mixture into the turkey, 4 or 5 places in each breast and 2 or 3 in each leg and thigh. (Inject as deep into the flesh as you can.) Pat dry if any of the mixture leaks out. Season the turkey inside and out with 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper and rub it in well.
• Add the oil to the frying pot and heat to 350˚ F (if using a propane fryer, heat over medium). It should take 45 minutes to 1 hour to heat the oil. Once the oil reaches 350˚ F, using protective gloves, slowly lower the turkey into the fryer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• The oil temperature will drop 30˚ F to 40˚ F almost immediately. Adjust the heat so the temperature stays between 300˚ F and 325˚ F the whole time you are frying. Fry 3 minutes per pound. When the turkey is done, turn off the fryer. Using the gloves and the lifting rack, carefully remove the turkey from the oil to a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; it should register 155˚ F. Let the turkey rest 20 to 30 minutes before removing from the rack and carving (the internal temperature will increase about 10˚ F). Make sure the frying oil cools completely before discarding, at least 4 hours.

DEEP FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• To determine exactly how much oil you will need put the turkey into the pot provided with the turkey frying kit. Fill the pot with just enough water so the turkey is completely submerged. Quickly remove the turkey from the pot of water then mark the water line on the inside of the pot with a wax pencil or crayon. This will be the fill line to let you know exactly how much oil you will need to add to the pot. Discard the water and make sure to thoroughly dry both the turkey and the pot before adding the oil. It is extremely important to make sure the turkey and pot are completely dry. Any water in the hot oil will cause it to pop and splatter.
• Add enough oil to the pot to reach the fill line and with a paper towel wipe off the fill line that you drew. Put the pot on the propane burner provided in the turkey frying kit. Clip the oil thermometer provided to the pot and into the oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 250 degrees F.
• Arrange the turkey on the insert from the frying kit. Slowly submerge the turkey into the hot oil. Bring the temperature of the oil up to 350 degrees and maintain this temperature for the duration of the cooking time. Fry for about 45 minutes and remove turkey from oil and check the internal temperature. Turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 151 degrees F. After removing the turkey from the oil, allow it to rest on a cutting board or platter, until the internal temperature reaches 161 degrees F. Carve and serve.

DEEP-FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• Remove the neck, giblets and any excess fat from the turkey; discard. Remove and discard the plastic pop-up thermometer. Rinse the turkey under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Refrigerate overnight, uncovered, to let the turkey dry. (It must be completely dry before frying, or the oil will splatter.)
• Fill a turkey fryer with the vegetable oil according to the manufacturer's instructions and heat to 400 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, mix the Cajun seasoning and granulated onion in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture inside the turkey cavity and all over the skin. Make sure the hole at the neck is open at least 2 inches so the oil can flow through the bird.
• Place the turkey in the drain basket, neck-end first, and slowly lower the basket into the hot oil until the turkey is completely submerged. Once the oil temperature climbs back up to 350 degrees F, start timing: Fry the turkey until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees F, about 3 1/2 minutes per pound. (A 12-pound bird will take about 50 minutes from the time you lower it into the oil.)
• Carefully remove the basket from the oil and transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Let the turkey rest at least 30 minutes. Make sure that all of the oil has drained out of the cavity, then transfer to a platter.

INJECTED BUFFALO TURKEY

Steps:

• Melt the butter in the microwave with the lemon juice and olive oil.
• Add the dry spices, mix and pour into the injector.
• Inject the bird with as much as you can. If leftovers exist smear the top of the turkey with the rest.
• Bake as normal. Rest for ten minutes when done and enjoy.

SOUTHERN-STYLE DEEP-FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• Read the Turkey Deep-Frying Do's and Don'ts (below). In small bowl, mix all spice rub ingredients until blended; set aside. In shallow glass or plastic bowl, mix all marinade ingredients until salt is dissolved; set aside.
• Remove giblets and neck from turkey; rinse turkey well with cold water; pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Take extra care to dry both inside cavities, because water added to hot oil can cause excessive bubbling. To allow for good oil circulation through the cavity, do not tie legs together. Cut off wing tips and tail because they can get caught in the fryer basket. Place turkey in large pan.
• Rub inside and outside of turkey with spice rub. Inject marinade into turkey, following directions that came with injector. Cover turkey in pan; place in refrigerator at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• Place outdoor gas burner on level dirt or grassy area. Add oil to cooking pot until about 2/3 full. Clip deep-fry thermometer to edge of pot. At medium-high setting, heat oil to 375°F. (May take 20 to 40 minutes depending on outside temperature, wind and weather conditions.) Place turkey, neck end down, on basket or rack. When deep-fry thermometer reaches 375°F, slowly lower turkey into hot oil. Level of oil will rise due to frothing caused by moisture from turkey but will stabilize in about 1 minute.
• Immediately check oil temperature; increase flame so oil temperature is maintained at 350°F. If temperature drops to 340°F or below, oil will begin to seep into turkey.
• Fry turkey about 3 to 4 minutes per pound, or about 35 to 42 minutes for 10- to 12-pound turkey. Stay with fryer at all times because heat may need to be regulated throughout frying.
• At minimum frying time, carefully remove turkey to check for doneness. A meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast should read 170°F. If inserted into thigh, it should read 180°F. If necessary, return turkey to oil and continue cooking. When turkey is done, let drain a few minutes.
• Remove turkey from rack; place on serving platter. Cover with foil; let stand 20 minutes for easier carving.Turkey Deep-Frying Do's and Don'ts We want your turkey-frying experience to be successful, especially if it's your first time, so we've gathered these important reminders. Please take a moment to read them before getting ready for a great-tasting feastDo's Follow the use-and-care directions for your deep-fryer when deep-frying turkey, and review all safety tips.Place the fryer on a level dirt or grassy area away from the house or garage. Never fry a turkey indoors, including in a garage or any other structure attached to a building.Use only oils with high smoke points, such as peanut, canola or safflower oil.Wear old shoes that you can slip out of easily and long pants just in case you do spill some oil on you.Immediately wash hands, utensils, equipment and surfaces that have come in contact with the raw turkey.Have a fire extinguisher nearby for added safety.Serve the turkey right after cooking, and store leftovers in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking.Allow the oil to cool completely before disposing of it or storing it. Don'ts Never fry on wooden decks or other structures that could catch fire, and don't fry on concrete, which could be stained by the oil.Never leave the hot oil unattended, and do not allow children or pets near the cooking area.